Matablog

As mentioned previously in this space, Matador will be celebrating the label’s 21st anniversary this October and this much we can finally confirm : there will be 3 nights of shows starting Friday October 1, and concluding Sunday October 3 at the Palms Casino & Resort In Las Vegas, NV. We’ll be dropping further hints about the amazing lineup in the days ahead, but a final announcement and information about how to purchase tickets will be made here at the trusty Matablog on July 5. Are you as psyched as we are? (hopefully yes, because we’re getting in for free).

(ADDENDUM – there’s been a bit of confusion so just to clear things up, tickets DO NOT GO ON SALE JULY 5. We’ll merely be announcing the on sale date/time on July 5. thanks – GC)

No.FAIR. How the hell can I continue to live while waiting for this to go on sale? And then not telling my husband for whom I hope this can be an anniversary present for? Huh? Huh? Why’d you have to go and ruin my life (by possibly making it that much more awesome?)? *PFFFFTTTT*

TOUR TOUR TOUR
Space out the shows to spare your livers.
Lawrence, April, 1996 = religious experience—like watching some combo of The Bealtes, The Who, The Doors and Pink Floyd at the Cavern—only better.

Can anyone from Matador tell me whether these shows will be in an all ages location or not? To “the Pope of ….” I know Vegas well. The big venues are all ages. Bars are not. I’m presuming any part of the Palms that is big enough to feature Pavement will not be just some bar. I’m in a potentially rare situation where my wife and I and our teenaged kids all love this lineup equally.

P.S. Two words will make this the greatest show ever put on: Come Reunion. C’mon Matador…deliver! (please)

though there are more details to follow, we can confirm the 3 nights we’re doing at The Palms’ main venue, The Pearl, are all ages. The hotel has their own rules concerning underage folks on the casino floor (ie. no way), but that’s standard practice.

also, we kid around about this kind of thing very often, but it’s very flattering to us that so many people give a shit about this event and we’re trying very hard to put something together that’s not gonna disappoint. stay tuned.

Well, since I missed a lot of these bands because of being underage I gotta respect the all ages, but I’m hoping that Vegas all-ages means I can still drink and not have to stand at the back of the room to do so.

This line-up reads, almost in order, like my favorite band in HS circa ’97 or so. Can’t believe I get a chance to see “classic” GbV, Pavement and the rest at once. I am for sure booking it all asap, but hope the prices are announced soon, so I know how much I can spend on hotel room/whiskey/blackjack…

And holy shit, how did I miss Chavez on there? And I’m sure more will be announced. Whoa.

Matador- you were always one of the few labels I could safely buy ANYthing I saw with your logo, and now you’re putting on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen… thank you. Thank you thank you thank you.

And if you need some sort of uber-fan to do some blogging or interviews or poster/sticker stuff, please contact me.

…also, the text I have to enter for this post says “sodding officials”. Just thought that was kinda awesome.

HOW ABOUT THE FROGS? BRING THEM OUT!Will there be giveaways like a soap on a rope with the MAtador label or fridge magnets,frisbees,those eco friendly shopping bags,tennis sweat socks with matching headbands and wristbands or a Matador Ford Mustang?

Willl video cameras be allowed?
Will there be a contest where a fan of GBV wins a date with Beatle Bob?
MAybe a fan can win a contest to be special MC .
MAybe a onetime jam band with Russel Simins,Jon Spencer ,Thurston Moore,Ira Kaplan,Spiral Stairs, and Steve MALKMUS

I am going to re-mortgage the house and come from New Zealand for this – anybody want to let me sleep on their couch for a few nights?

I saw GBV in Auckland NZ back in 2000, was lucky enough to meet them and act as their de facto beer roadie for the night, they are my favourite band EVER and can’t wait to see them again, especially with this line-up…

oh and the other bands… are you kidding me? this has to be the best three day line-up EVER!

How bout teenage fanclub performing a catholic education straight thru
And why not some bettie serveert palomine action
I mean just for fun. All is perfect as is with GBV there. If it was only gbv id be there

Ah! This is amazing. Thank you for bringing this to Vegas. Usually Vegas is skipped over by not-so-mainstream bands. Can’t wait for this. And thank god this is all ages. I would’ve died. (18 year old, haha)

Ah! This is amazing. Thank you for bringing this to Vegas. Usually Vegas is skipped over by not-so-mainstream bands. Can’t wait for this. And thank god this is all ages. I would’ve died. (18 year old, haha) So excited!

All Ages?
my kids are 5 and 8. Both love Spoon and GBV. They saw Spoon in prospect Park two yrs ago. will All Ages really be All ages? It will be difficult for me and the wife to attend if 5 and 8 are not welcome. Don’t mess with the daughters’ love for their father. Please. No . . . seriously, please.

Oh yeah!! My house may be worth 1/2 of what I paid for it but for this fleeting moment I am STOKED I live in Vegas!
The lineup so far is super sweet. I can’t believe Jay Reatard won’t be around to participate. How about some Demo Doll Rods? Echo the Soft Boys request above. 3 months to wait…

Oh yeah, as far as underage in Vegas in general. Gerard said it right. Non gaming areas only. No exceptions. Nevada Gaming Board is very strict. Don’t expect to sneak your 16 year old into a club either. Those places are under the gun big time.

Please add Thinking Fellers Union ,RailRoad Jerk ,The Fall, and Interpol and lastly the FROGS!
I hear the suites have recoring studios in them..MAybe a allstar band recording there ..I know Thurston would do it ..MAn you could make multiple Superbands and record them and it would sell..

From Las Vegas Citilife Magazine:
“Given the location and size of the performance venue Matador chose for its 21st birthday festival, it’s obvious they didn’t really have Las Vegas locals in mind. And that fact was cemented this morning, when the indie label announced that not only would $199 three-day passes require purchase of a three-night stay at host-resort Palms, but opportunities for locals to buy a pass — no single-day tickets allowed, folks — sans room would be limited to 50, through Zia Record Exchange.”

Good luck with that.

So, any of you who thought of driving in and getting a reasonably priced room at another hotel or crashing at a friend’s, you’re F’d too.

Peter, I’ve just Mike Prevatt’s piece and while he’s totally entitled to his opinion, I take great exception to his argument that “Matador should have capitalized and staged this in a bigger venue”. We’re not in any way pleased that some folks who want to attend are going to be shut out, but had we, for instance, done these shows in a space that could’ve held 5,000 + (and such things were considered), I think there’d be just as many if not more claims that we didn’t give a hoot about the fans. These concerts wouldn’t sound or look the same in some enormodome.

As far as the claim, “it’s a surprise this wasn’t an exclusive weekend getaway for the label, the bands and their pals”, from this end if feels like we’re trying pretty hard to make this event accessible to as many real humans who aren’t part of the rock biz as possible without turning into something more to do with crowd control than music.

The line-up is absolutely amazing. Maybe I’m saying this because I am bitter since for me attending is impossible, but this event should be ocurring in another city and in another venue. Again, it might just be the bitterness.

Gerard, 50 tickets to the locals is BS. The Palms, to give you the venue, possibly for free or at a discount or a cut of the room charges, I don’t know, asked for the exclusive room deal. So, like many an organizer you soak your attendees instead of paying for the venue. So, that part of the deal leaves a lot of your fans and friends out in the cold who can’t afford the Palms room rate. Then there those of us who live here. The palms lowest room rate for the weekend is $299.00 Friday night, $399.00 Saturday night. ROCK N ROLL BABY! Did you guys negotiate that?

Just so you know I don’t disagree about everything, by Vegas standards, the $199.00 is a STEAL. It is just the room deal that, in my opinion, puts you on the wrong side economics.

I think I’ll just go see the Pixies at the Joint and forget about this one.

Or maybe you can throw everyone a bone and have some offsite shows at the Beauty Bar and the like.

Not to pick a fight but the $299 Friday and $399 saturday rates you quoted have nothing do with this particular debate. Persons buying tickets for the weekend are getting the rooms for a discounted $99 per night at the time of purchase . Locals who are fortunate enough to obtain tickets at Zia on Friday don’t have to reserve rooms at ANY price.

Wait, maybe I’m understanding wrong… we have to buy the rooms @ $99 to even get a ticket? I’m still in, but this is starting to become tough for my friends to join me. $199 is perfect as a price, I was ready for higher, but do we really HAVE to stay at the Palms?

and how would I go about reserving a room by Mitch Mitchell, that guy is badassed.

Hi my names Jake. My hobby is listening to music. Ten years ago in a muggy fog depressed by all the absolute crap I was hearing on mainstream radio I went to a record store(remember those) and bought a guided by voices album cause I thought the album cover was cool. Since that moment life has been good. They saved music for me. I am such a fan that I would have bought every every album Bob has ever put out but I try to stretch it out at about 1 a month so hopefully if I live to about 80 i will be able to listen to everythink he has ever released. GBV music is one of the greatest things life has offered me. I check bob’s website everyday in hopes that he may play another life show again (he’s gettin old). I seriously thought I was dreaming when I saw the classic line-up. I could give two shits about the other bands at this show. I discovered GBV late and I never got to see them live. This is the only show I will probably ever want to go to for the rest of my life. I can’t swing the hotel price. I can totally afford the ticket price. I’m begging you guys to arrange something where I can at least see them 1 night. Any way possible to stay and pay for 1 night. In Vegas you Gamble. I am betting 10 bucks GBV starts their set with \Stiffled Man Casino\. I am doubling down on my faith that you guys will answer my prayer. Please consider.

Y’all are just a little crazy. NY is DEFINITELY NOT cheaper than Vegas. Nor is Chicago. That’s just silliness. In the 2010 Forbes magazine 10 most expensive cities in the US to visit, NY is #1 and Chicago is #6.

It’s fine to feel frustrated, but let’s not get ridiculous.

That said, I’d sell my car to go to this show. Fingers crossed for tickets.

I’m a Las Vegas native and I’ve heard a lot of other locals talk about how they’re getting fucked.

just think about it..The Palms is a 2100 person venue..Las Vegas is the only city that Matador is offering a 100 pre-sale tickets (without the room package).

This shit is gonna be insane it will sell out..With the pre-sales at zia..it’s safe to say there will be a 100 Las Vegans in at the show.

Also, with people coming in from all around the world for this event ..I doubt they’re will even be a 100 people from New Yorkers or a 100 from Philly ect…I think it’s safe to assume Las Vegas will be the largest group in attendance at the festival.

From my point of view it doesn’t look like Matador is pissing on Vegas. If anything they’re giving us an advantage no other city will get.

Gotta agree with the sneak, Jake, “Is anybody ready to raaaawk!?” will be the first sounds to ring… I’ll take that bet, by the way, as it doesn’t fall in the “classic period” at all. And as for not giving a shit about the other bands: try to shit them, cause most are really awesome.

Also, to those griping about pricing: Really? This is not yer average festival, and Matador owes nobody anything, but Gerard and the rest seem to have pulled an amazing show together, so let’s give them a hand.

I think NY would only be cheaper those that live there (since Vegas is more of a hotel/flight cheapo spot) and Vegas is perfect for drunken debauchery.

I’m only waiting for a confirmation on how the hotel rooms will work… since up to 4 can fit in a room, and since it sounds like hotel room is mandatory, do we have to purchase all 4 tickets at the same time as the hotel?

I live in Vegas. I have a friend coming in from out of town (if this gets worked out). It appears by this thread that I will most likely miss out on the pittance of 50 tickets dropped in the dirt by Matador on the way to the gold mine at the Palms, to the hungry dogs that do not work which will be mobbing Zia records in record numbers. I have called Zia a few times and they have no info WHATSOEVER. They seem to be getting pissed about this arrangement. I’m not sure what I will do but the possibility of me seeing this show is looking quite grim.

so to make matters more confusing there are multiple versions of this info on the matador site….some are updated and others are not (like this one). they’ve updated to allow a ‘limited number’ to by ticket with no rooms for $250. Here is all 3 versions of the blog i have seen.

Yeah what makes you think GBV may tour? That is the only glimer of hope I can see throughout this mess. Also does anybody know if Demos will play bass? I can’t see Bob making Mitch play bass everyone is gonna want him to rock the guitar.

Demos will indeed be on bass, and I’d bet $100 they won’t tour. None of them have been touring for a while, so I’m pretty sure this is a one off.
And it appears to be official: all my friends bailed on me, and I don’t think I’m going to go. :(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
This is partly because we can’t even find out who is playing on what day, and that’s too much unknown to plan such a pricey weekend. Thanks for making the best lineup every, matador, but I must decline…
oh, and did someone get to choose the spam robot word pairs we have to type in?
Because this time it says “munched her”

Glad nobody shook my hand on that bet, looks like they may. Who the fuck cares because I am fully in! To anyone (like me) following this page, check the site FAQs
( http://www.matadorrecords.com/matablog/2010/07/07/faq-for-matador-at-21-the-lost-weekend/ ), cause it answers most anything anyone could reasonably ask.
I’m thankful that I can afford this right now, because it’s going to be amazing. See you lucky bitches there!
Also, did you ask Bottomless Pit to do Silkworm stuff? Cause that’s about the only thing that could make this better (*Railroad Jerk*).

Gerard, you have to give the Northeast a little piece of this. C’mon, the northeast has been the bedrock of Matador sales and swagger. I hit the Irving Plaza NYC for the 10th anniversary – I think…Pavement played, Cat Power…but this latest lineup is out of hand…I would love to be there, but vegas???? Nobodys got the cash right now to go to Vegas. How about Philly, NYC, Boston? You got to give us some blue collar access to this dream team.

As someone who has been a HUGE fan and supporter of the Matador label, I am very disappointed that more tickets are not available to fans.

On July 5th, Gerard said:

“we’re trying pretty hard to make this event accessible to as many real humans who aren’t part of the rock biz as possible without turning into something more to do with crowd control…”.

Sorry, but it doesn’t look that way from here. A venue of say 5000 (essentially doubling the capacity) would have allow many more hard core fans to attend and would hardly have required the kind of crowd control one expects at Lollapalooza or Pitchfork.

I personally have NO gripe about the ticket prices. I think the ticket and room packages offered were bargains. I (and others I know) would have gladly paid 2 – 3 times those prices for a chance to see so many of my favorite bands in one place.

But, of course, that won’t be possible because we can’t get tickets!!!

you’re correct. A venue capacity of 2100 means someone’s gonna be left out if more than 2100 people wish to purchase tickets. But at the risk of seeming overly defensive about this, we wanted to ensure the best possible experience for those who purchased tickets, not necessarily the most profitable or largest event we could possibly assemble. Most of the bands on this bill have played their best shows in climates very different from 5000 capacity venues ; it’s also pretty hard to maintain the same sort of focus/favorable presentation for 21 or more bands in a venue suited for 5K or more. And that’s what I mean when I refer to “crowd control” — it’s not so much about security, it’s more to do with a situation in which major compromises are made in terms of sound and sight lines. I’m not saying it’s impossible to have a good time at a 5K capacity event or even a 10K or 15K capacity event. But for fans besides those who are closest to the stage, it’s a lot tougher.

I’d submit the persons who were successful in obtaining tickets probably include just as ardent supporters of the label as yourself. That said, we appreciate the constructive criticism and shall keep in mind going forward. If at some point additional tickets are released (and we’re not able to promise such a thing), there will be announcement here and on the dedicated matador at 21 site. (http://www.matadorrecords.com/21/)

Gerard,
I am the last person to dispute the enormous appeal of a small venue. The best shows I’ve ever seen have been at venue’s much smaller than the Pearl (a double encore pavement show with steve getting on drums for two states, comes to mind).

I just have never seen so much demand for any event in my life. Even if I wanted to pay obscene prices (and believe I’d be tempted) to buy a ticket from a \re-seller\, there are no tickets out there. It’s unheard of, in my experience.

So, I’m only pointing that there is tremendous demand out there…and, to be fair I’m absolutely biased BECAUSE I WANT TO GO!!!

Seriously, I love Matador bands. So I’m not really complaining about what Matador is trying to do. And I also understand there is no way you could make everyone happy. It just feels weird to be willing to unload tons of cash for something and not be able to!!

Thanks for the replies. I’m done venting. I think I feel a little better.